Rankings
Economic development creates opportunities to grow state, local and metro areas, which are essential for economic growth, improved quality of life and community development. Rankings articles below.
Colorado, Illinois, New York Lead Nation In LEED Green Building
Massachusetts and Hawaii round out Top 5 on USGBC's Top 10 States for LEED, which recognizes current leaders committed to sustainable buildings, cities, and communities.
Austin, Denver, New York Are Top Startup Ecosystems
Austin, Denver and New York are the cities with the top Startup Ecosystems in Business Facilities' 15th Annual Rankings Report.
Atlanta, San Antonio, Phoenix Lead In Economic Growth Potential
Atlanta, San Antonio and Phoenix are the top-ranked large metros for Economic Growth Potential in Business Facilities' 15th Annual Rankings Report.
California Is Land Of Opportunity, Michigan Is Motor King
California is the top-ranked state for Opportunity Zones and Michigan leads in Automotive Manufacturing Strength in Business Facilities' 15th Annual Rankings Report.
Business Facilities’ 15th Annual Rankings: State Rankings Report
Our 15th annual rankings report maintains BF’s standard for credible and comprehensive results. Rankings categories may evolve over time, but our commitment to an unbiased assessment of valid metrics never wavers.
Business Facilities’ 2019 Metro Rankings Report
Business Facilities' 2019 Metro Rankings Report takes a look at the hot topics in economic development on the city level, including job growth, economic growth potential, tech opportunities and more.
Business Facilities’ 2019 Global Rankings Report
Business Facilities' 2019 Global Rankings Report measures international locations’ progress on a range of factors, including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, economic growth potential, global competitiveness, and beyond.
Illinois Was Tops For Green Building In 2018
Massachusetts and Washington earned the second and third spots in the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual Top 10 States for LEED Green Building ranking.
Nashville, Bozeman Top 2019 Economic Strength Ranking
POLICOM’s annual ranking of U.S. Metropolitan and Micropolitan statistical areas is based on their long-term tendency to consistently grow in both size and quality.
July / August 2018 Issue (Volume 51, Number 4)
The July / August 2018 Issue features our 14th annual Rankings Report, presenting the top states, metros and global locations — with a special focus on new technologies.
Business Facilities’ 14th Annual Rankings: State Rankings Report
Our 14th Annual Rankings Report keeps pace with the evolving priorities of economic development and tracks red-hot growth sectors, kicking off with the state rankings report.
Texas Governor Presented With 2016 State Of The Year Award
The Lone Star State earned Business Facilities' annual award for the third time in recognition of its business friendly climate that welcomes innovation and promises unlimited growth potential in years to come.
July / August 2017 Issue (Volume 50, Number 4)
The July / August 2017 issue features our 13th annual rankings report, presenting the top states, metros and global locations from every possible economic development angle.
Manufacturing Is Job One For Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan
Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan have been named the Top Manufacturing States in a new rankings category in Business Facilities' 13th Annual Rankings Report; Louisiana is tops in Cybersecurity Growth Potential.
California Keeps Crown As King Of Solar Power
California retains its crown as the nation's king of solar power: The Golden State was the top-ranked state in all three solar power categories in Business Facilities' 13th Annual Rankings Report.
Business Facilities’ 13th Annual Rankings Report
The 13th annual edition of our rankings report tracks growth sectors that seem to be emerging overnight from thin air in uncharted waters, telling you who’s out front in cybersecurity, offshore wind energy and the other frontiers of the 21st century.
Offshoring
The U.S. offshore wind energy sector appears to be ready for prime time, and the potential is enormous.
Europe Leads World In Business Talent
European nations top the 2016 IMD World Talent Ranking, which rates economies on how equipped they are to develop, attract, and retain business talent.
July / August 2016 Issue (Volume 49, Number 4)
The 12th Annual Rankings Report stars in Business Facilities' July / August 2016 issue. Plus, a look at New Mexico, Florida, Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, New England, Advanced Manufacturing, and Food Processing.
2016 Metro Rankings Report: San Antonio, TX Is No. 1 In Economic Growth Potential
San Antonio, TX is the top-ranked metro for Economic Growth Potential in Business Facilities’ 12th Annual Rankings Report; Reno-Sparks, NV and Huntsville, AL placed second and third, respectively.
2016 State Rankings Report: New York Is Top Destination For Capital Investment
New York is the top-ranked state for Foreign Direct Investment measured in capital investment and California leads the field in FDI measured in projects in Business Facilities' 12th Annual Rankings Report.
2016 State Rankings Report: Utah Is Top Job Growth Leader
Utah is Business Facilities' top-ranked state among Job Growth Leaders in the magazine's 12th Annual Rankings Report.
2016 State Rankings: CA, TX Repeat As Solar, Wind Power Capacity Kings
California maintained its spot as top-ranked state for Installed Solar Power Capacity and Texas kept its crown as king of Installed Wind Power Capacity in Business Facilities' 12th Annual Rankings Report.
2016 State Rankings: FL Tops In Business Climate, NV Shines In Growth Potential
Florida is Business Facilities' top-ranked state for Best Business Climate and Nevada was named no. 1 in Economic Growth Potential in the magazine's 12th Annual Rankings Report, released today.
Business Facilities’ 12th Annual Rankings Report: State Rankings
BF’s 12TH ANNUAL RANKINGS report is our most comprehensive analysis to date of the locations that are leading the pack in the most important benchmarks for sustainable growth in the 21st century. Part One: State Rankings.
Grid Stars: States Race To Embrace Smart-grid Technology
Nine states and Washington D.C. lead the pack in electricity grid modernization. Navagant Research forecasts that the global Smart Grid as a Service (SGaaS) market, estimated at $1.7 billion in 2014, will grow to $11 billion in 2023.
California, Illinois, Texas Lead The Charge Toward A Modernized Power Grid
For the third year in a row, California is the highest-ranked state when it comes to moving toward a modernized electric grid, according to the 3rd Annual Grid Modernization Index (GMI).
Illinois Is Top State For LEED Green Building
Illinois retained its top national position on USGBC’s annual Top 10 States for LEED list for the third year in a row.
Corporate Moves Maintain Texas As Top Magnet State
Texas has once again topped the Allied Van Lines Magnet States Report, which uses internal data to track U.S. migration patterns, thanks to a net relocation gain of 2,558 families in 2015.
U.S. Expected To Be Top Manufacturing Nation By 2020
The U.S. is expected to become the most competitive manufacturing nation over the next five years, with the current leader China sliding into second position, according to Deloitte Global's upcoming 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index report.
Norway Most Prosperous, Singapore Most Successful Economy In The World
Norway is the most prosperous country, while Singapore is the most successful country economically, according to the 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index™. The report ranks 142 countries across eight categories: the Economy, Entrepreneurship & Opportunity; Governance; Education; Health; Safety & Security; Personal Freedom; and Social Capital.
New Study Ranks States by Lowest and Highest Effective Tax Rates
A new study from The Tax Foundation in collaboration with KPMG LLP provides business leaders and policymakers with a comparison of actual state tax burdens faced by real-world business.
Business Facilities’ 2015 Global Rankings Report: China Leads In Renewable Energy Investment
China is the top-ranked nation among Renewable Energy Investment Leaders in Business Facilities’ annual Global Rankings Report. Switzerland retained its crown as the top-ranked nation in Global Competitiveness.
Business Facilities’ 2015 Metro Rankings Report: Indiana Metros Are Exports Leaders
Indiana metros dominated the top-10 list for Exports Leaders in Business Facilities’ 2015 Metro Rankings Report. Four Indiana locations made the top tier in this category, which is based on exports as a percentage of GDP.
Business Facilities’ 2015 Metro Rankings Report: Austin, Nashville, Raleigh Are Metro Frontrunners
Austin, TX added to its impressive record of success in Business Facilities’ Metro Rankings Report with the best across-the-board showing in the magazine’s 2015 edition.
Business Facilities’ 11th Annual Rankings Report: Metro and Global Rankings
We’ve revamped our Metro and Global rankings this year to include some new technology oriented benchmarks.
Business Facilities’ 11th Annual Rankings Report: Texas, Utah Top Flagship Business, Economic Categories
Our 11th annual rankings report is Business Facilities’ most comprehensive evaluation to date of state, metro and international leaders in more than 50 critical categories essential to site selection choices.
First Word: All Arrows Point Up
The anniversary edition of our economic development scorecard is the most comprehensive, fairly evaluated and informative rankings anywhere.
Cover Story: 2014 Business Facilities Rankings Report
We’re marking the 10th anniversary of our annual rankings festival by doing what we do every year: refining our rankings criteria to give you the most meaningful benchmarks of state and metro performance.
Business Facilities’ 10th Annual Rankings Report: Austin, Baton Rouge, Mobile Leaders In Growth Potential
The burgeoning high-tech industry in Austin has made Texas the second-largest semiconductor job market after California, while public-private partnerships in Baton Rouge spur initiatives in new high-growth sectors.
